CEDoc - UM6P - Applied Chemistry & Engineering Research Center of Excellence - Advanced materials (14523)

Mohammed VI Polytechnic University is an institution dedicated to research and innovation in Africa and aims to position itself among world-renowned universities in its fields

The University is engaged in economic and human development and puts research and innovation at the forefront of African development. A mechanism that enables it to consolidate Morocco's frontline position in these fields, in a unique partnership-based approach and boosting skills training relevant for the future of Africa.

Located in the municipality of Benguerir, in the very heart of the Green City, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University aspires to leave its mark nationally, continentally, and globally.

CEDoc – UM6P – [Applied Chemistry & Engineering Research Center of Excellence] – Advanced materials and absorbed phase tank configuration for H2 storage in wide range of conditions

Job Description:

1. Introduction UM6P:

Mohammed VI Polytechnic University is an institution dedicated to research and innovation in Africa and aims to position itself among world-renowned universities in its fields. The University is engaged in economic and human development and puts research and innovation at the forefront of African development. A mechanism that enables it to consolidate Morocco's frontline position in these fields in a unique partnership-based approach and boost skills training relevant to the future of Africa. Located in the municipality of Benguerir, in the heart of the Green City, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University aspires to leave its mark nationally, continentally, and globally.

1. Context:

We are currently witnessing the dawn of the hydrogen economy, where H2 is poised to become a primary fuel for heating, vehicles, and the long-distance transport of energy. H2 can be stored as a gas (pressurized at room temperature or cryo-compressed), liquid (at ~20K or chemically bound to liquid organic carriers), or solid (chemically attached to solids or physically adsorbed onto porous materials). Chemical routes are associated with increased capture and release energies and thus elaborate heat management becomes immense, thus, offering immense research opportunities from the material and thank design perspectives. On the other hand, the use of highly porous materials for H2 storage is based on physical adsorption (physi-sorption), i.e. weak physical (Van der Waals) gas-solid interactions, offers also a less energy intensive way of storing H2 at near liquid densities compared to e.g. conventional compressed or cryo-compression methods. By using advanced materials from the families of metal hydrades, MOFs, highly porous functionalized silica, etc, the energetic cost of compression or liquefaction can be avoided, thus making it an appealing alternative to current H2 transport technologies .

Research objectives:

The search for an effective H2 storage agent has been ongoing for at least two decades. However, there are still significant hurdles in the development and deployment of such materials: both volumetric and gravimetric capacities for the best performing adsorbents are still well below the wt% and 40 g L-1) and ultimate (6.5 wt% and 50 g L-1) U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) onboard H2 storage targets (on system level), whereas system-level capacities can be significantly less than total uptake for a given material. Accordingly , the objectives of this Phd program are:

• Design and synthesize high-performance materials (hydrades, MOFs, zeolites, porous carbons, and functionalized silica-based adsorbents) with tunable functional and structural properties.
• Perform structural, surface, and porosity characterization using XRD, SEM-EDX, TEM, FTIR, TGA, BET, and others.
• Assess the chemical and thermal stability of materials under relevant operating
• Investigate structure-property relationships affecting H2 storage performances.
• Evaluate performance over multiple H2 charging/discharging cycles to assess durability and recyclability.
• Investigate the use of sustainable and waste-derived precursors for low-cost, eco-friendly adsorbent synthesis.

1. Admission Criteria:

Minimum Requirements:

• A Master's degree (or equivalent) in chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, or related disciplines.
• Technical skills in experimental lab work and data analysis (e.g., Excel, Origin, …).
• Prior experience with porous materials and gas adsorption analysis is a plus.
• Experience working in materials synthesis and characterization (e.g., XRD, FTIR, TGA).

Technical Competencies:

• Experience in adsorption field
• Experience with nanomaterials synthesis and characterization (e.g., XRD, SEM, TEM, Raman, BET).
• Familiarity with process modelling and simulation (Comsol,…)

Additional Qualities:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication in English.
• Motivation to work in a multidisciplinary and international research environment.

Thesis Directors: Pr. Youssef BELMABKHOUT (Applied Chemistry & Engineering Research Center of Excellence, ACER), Prof Jacques Huot, l'Institut de Recherche sur l'Hydrogène, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières

Thesis Co-Director: Pr. Karim (Applied Chemistry & Engineering Research Center of Excellence, ACER), Prof Thomas. Auvray, l'Institut de Recherche sur l'Hydrogène, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières

Contents of the application:

• The candidate's CV.
• A cover letter explaining the candidate's interest in the subject.
• Any publications (if applicable)

UM6P.